Wednesday, December 3, 2008

The Hmars are spread over a fairly large area in North East India. They live mostly in the hills of south Manipur, Mizoram, Cachar, North Cachar, Meghalaya , Tripura. Burma (Myanmar) and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Although these areas are under different administrative set ups, they are geographically connected. In Manipur, the Hmars reside in the southern part, especially in the Churachandpur District and its adjoining areas. These areas, except Tuthaphai (the Khuga Valley/Churachandpur), are hilly. Tuiruong (Barak), Tuivai and Tuithapui (Khuga) are some of the important rivers flowing through the Hmar area. The area is densely forested and is very rich in wildlife. These forests provide a good hunting ground for wild animals. In Mizoram, the Hmar live mostly in the northern area, especially in the Aizawl District. Dense forests, swift running river and streams cover the area. The area is very rich in flora and fauna. Oak, rosewood, sal and bamboo are the common vegetation. Besides, different varieties of orchid are also found. The area is rich in wild life too. In Assam, the Hmars live in the Cachar and North Cachar District. In Meghalaya, the Hmars live mostly in the Juwai District. In Tripura, the Hmars mostly live in and around Darchawi, a village on the Mizoram – Tripura border.

The Hmar inhabited area is generally mountainous cloaked in dripping rainforest. Myriads of different orchids bloom in the tropical forests, which are a home to many wild animals and plants. Much of the land is clad in rain forests, where bamboo, orchid and a huge variety of trees grow. Besides, there are a number of rivulets, streams and rivers in the Hmar inhabited areas.

The equator and the tropic of cancer pass through the Hmar areas. The Hmar thus lived in a sub-tropical belt. The land is fertile and usually wet. Major parts of the land are arable for vegetation. Rice, the Hmar’s chief food crop, is grown throughout the Hmar areas on small farms. These terraced paddies occupy lands that were previously rain forests. However, advanced irrigation and drainage techniques and the introduction of high yielding varieties have not yet reached the Hmar farmers. The farmers depend on the monsoon rainfall. The Hmar inhabited areas received an annual rainfall between two to four hundred centimeters. Heavy rainfall and warm tropical temperatures have produced dense evergreen rainfall. The constant heavy rainfall leaches nutrients from the soil, leaving them low in fertility. Rice is a major crop and a staple food of the Hmar’s diet. Ginger is extensively cultivated. The Hmars in Cachar and Tripura have given up jhumming and have started to grow pineapples and oranges. They grow pineapples in huge quantities and are the supplier of the best quality pineapples in India.

The People:

The Hmars trace their origin to Sinlung, the location of which is still a fluid fact. The Hmars are generally short statured, sturdy, dark haired, brown skinned, known for their bravery and head hunting culture. The Hmars still treasured and garnered their immense traditional arts – folk dances, folk songs, etc. These folk dances and songs represent scenes of adventures, battles or wars, love, victory, celebrations, of their experiences throughout history. Majority of the Hmars are cultivators. With the coming of the Gospel and introduction of western education, majority of the Hmar population are educated. At the same time the Hmar people has shed their old norms and customs and have embraced Christianity since 1910. Today, the Hmars are one of the highly educated tribes, employed by the Government of India in different fields and department of government services.

What is Sawlakia?

Sawlakia is the most popular dance of Mara people in Southern Mizoram, living in West Maraland(India) and the three townships of Thantlang, Peletwa and Matupi in Chin state, Myanmar commonly known as East Maraland... Read more